The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 by Congress to ensure safe and healthy working conditions. OSHA proudly reported a decline in the number or workplace fatalities in 2009 compared to 2008. However, this does not take into account the number of American workers who have been laid off due to the slow-down in manufacturing and construction.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: in 2009 4340 Americans including 243 Floridians lost their lives at work last year. 150 Americans died at construction sites.

The statistics on work-place injuries are much less accurate. For example, our Miami injury law firm is currently representing a worker who was severely injured in a crane accident in Miami and OHSA does not require employers to report injuries unless they involve 3 or more employees or a workplace fatality. Therefore, many serious injuries are never investigated by OHSA. We urge anyone who is seriously injured while at work to immediately report the incident to both their employer and to OSHA.

For more information regarding the number of fatal work injuries click here.